Tanak in cautious mode ahead of tough Turkey test

Ott Tanak heads to Turkey this weekend with the world rally championship title tantalisingly within his touch.

The in-form Estonian has reeled off wins in four of the last five rallies in his trusty Toyota and is 33 points clear at the top of the standings.

With four rallies remaining, the 31-year-old is in the drivers' seat to become the first Estonian world champion. He would also be the first since 2004 not to answer to the name Sebastien.

That was the year Loeb won the first of his nine titles. Fellow Frenchman Ogier seamlessly continued the Sebastien stranglehold from 2013.

Ogier is running out of road in his quest for title number seven, with the Frenchman third in the battle for the 2019 crown, 40 points behind Tanak. Belgian Thierry Neuville is second, 33 points adrift.

Tanak arrives in Turkey for one of the least hospitable legs of the season, his confidence high, especially having won here last year, but retaining a keen sense of caution.

Awaiting him, and the rest of the WRC crew, are four days driving "on Turkey's twisty and unforgiving rock-strewn mountain roads, amid furnace-like heat" says the sport's official website.

Tanak told wrc.com: "This event is not one about pushing to the limit all the time, it's most important to find a rhythm which is suiting the conditions and then drive at that speed."
- 'Take more risks' -
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"We won't push like mad to win this rally from the start, but I would like to be in that position on Sunday afternoon."
"Last year's stages were without question the roughest I've ever had to face in my entire career."